1 December 1999
Don't Call Me 'Brave'! - breaking down images of disability
Launch by Susan Halliday, Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Date: Friday
3 December 1999
Place: Pascoe Vale Girls' Secondary College, Melbourne
Time: 2pm
On Friday 3 December we celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities.
People with a disability are often attributed with qualities such as 'courage', 'bravery' and 'determination'. Strong, stalwart in the face of trial, kinds of terms.
For many young women with disabilities, these can be unwelcome words. What about 'interesting', 'attractive', or 'loving'? Or description that reflect internal qualities such as intelligence, sensitivity and empathy, a sense of vision and creativity?
Some years ago, Australia's first Disability Discrimination Commissioner, the late Elizabeth Hastings, presented a series of speeches to young women high school students on her life and the importance of self-image and self-esteem.
Speaking from a deeply personal perspective - Elizabeth herself needed to use a wheelchair thoughout her life - the speeches recognised the yearning desire of young women with a disability to be accepted as real people with a contribution to make.
"The speeches focussed less on external values as on the importance of developing a sense of vision and values; about how not to be apologetic about mistakes; about the thrill of 'jumping off the mountain' and about change," says Susan Halliday, Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner.
Packaged, these speeches serve well as curriculum resource material. "They align with a number of Year 10 and 11 Curriculum Studies subjects. In an honest thought-provoking way, these speeches will be a valuable resource to teachers of vocational education, legal studies, studies of science, environment and English", Ms Halliday says.
For information please call Jan Payne on 0409 819 357 or Margie Cook on 0418 637 230.
Last updated 2 December 2001.
